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A real-world study of tirzepatide for weight loss in adults without diabetes mellitus.

Int J Obes (Lond) · 2026

Last updated 2026-05-28

In a 12-week study of 115 adults with obesity but no diabetes, those taking a low dose of tirzepatide (starting at 2.5 mg and increasing to 5 mg weekly) lost an average of 8.2 kg (7.3% of body weight), with 46.1% losing at least 5% of their weight. Blood sugar control, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides also improved, while side effects like nausea were reported by 7.8% of participants, and 10.4% stopped treatment early.

AI summary of the abstract below.

JournalInt J Obes (Lond), 2026
Citations0
Molecules tirzepatide
Conditions studied Obesity

Abstract

Tirzepatide, a dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist, has shown substantial weight-loss efficacy in clinical trials, though typically at higher doses and longer treatment durations. Evidence on the short-term real-world effectiveness of low-dose tirzepatide in adults with obesity without diabetes is limited. In this prospective multicentre observational study, 115 adults with obesity but without diabetes were treated with tirzepatide 2.5 mg weekly for 4 weeks, titrated to 5 mg for a total of 12 weeks. Anthropometric and biochemical parameters were assessed at baseline and week 12. Mean body weight decreased by 8.2 ± 4.9 kg (-7.3% ±4.4%), with a BMI reduction of 2.8 ± 1.7 kg/m²; 46.1% achieved ≥5% weight loss. HbA1c decreased from 5.6 ± 0.4% to 5.4 ± 0.3%, LDL cholesterol from 113 ± 30.4 to 106 ± 28 mg/dL, and triglycerides from 123.6 ± 56.1 to 119.2 ± 44.5 mg/dL, while HDL cholesterol and eGFR remained unchanged. Nausea was the most common adverse event (7.8%), and treatment discontinuation occurred in 10.4%, mainly among individuals previously treated with GLP-1 receptor agonists. Low-dose tirzepatide resulted in clinically meaningful short-term weight loss and favorable metabolic effects, supporting its effectiveness and tolerability in real-world practice.

Verbatim abstract via PubMed 41354867 ↗

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